MBABANE:The Judicial Service Commission(JSC) has been sworn-in amid challenges affecting the Judiciary including shortage of Magistrates, Judges and Clerks not to mention the financially struggling and demotivated judicial staff.
Chief Justice Bheki Maphalala urged the new JSC, sworn-in on Monday, to address the challenges affecting the Judiciary.
Acting Magistrates and Judges are sitting at home after the expiry of their contracts, some police officers are reportedly assisting the courts by working as interpreters as the Judiciary faces shortage of staff.
But the Ministry of Public Service particularly Minister Mabulala Maseko has been accused of being complicit in collapsing the operations of the Judiciary by refusing to allocate posts to the Chief Justice or the JSC and further facilitate the employment of staff.
But apart from that, Government recently increased salaries for Judges, on the other hand, workers within the Judiciary are reportedly struggling financially and some are allegedly engaging in criminal activities including forging court orders to generate money.
Judicial Service Commission(JSC) sworn-in, tasked with employing Magistrates and Judges as courts face shortage of Clerks(pic:Gov).